Making Streets Safer for Wheelchair Users
Shepherd Center supports Wheeldestrian’s™ efforts to make streets more accessible.
Research shows that pedestrians in wheelchairs are 36 percent more likely to be killed in a traffic accident versus those who do not use wheelchairs. Shepherd Center, a neurorehabilitation hospital and trailblazer in advocating for full inclusion and safety for people with disabilities, and Wheeldestrian™, a groundbreaking Intelligent Transportation System, aim to make streets safer.
“Part of Shepherd Center’s mission is to advocate for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life while promoting safety and injury prevention,” said Sarah Morrison, PT, MBA, MHA, Shepherd Center’s CEO. “And that includes making sure that wheelchair users can safely get from one place to another and cross streets without the risk of being injured due to their disability.”
Enter Wheeldestrian™, an innovative IoT solution that seamlessly integrates with standard traffic signals. Developed by Mobility Unlimited Technology Worldwide, this patented technology incorporates an international symbol of accessibility, alerting motorists to wheelchair users in intersection crossing areas. The system provides a universal design, particularly benefiting wheelchair users, pedestrians who are visually impaired, people using strollers, and individuals of smaller stature.
Dr. Helen Brown, CEO of Mobility Unlimited Technology Worldwide, explains, “Medicines, science, and technology have outpaced our infrastructure. We aim to create universal and inclusive technology globally, supporting the 65 million wheelchair users and one billion people with disabilities. By introducing Wheeldestrian™, we aim to make streets safer for all travelers."
Brown affirms, "Atlanta, with its commitment to equity and home to the world-renowned Shepherd Center, is the ideal city for Wheeldestrian™ integration. We are excited to introduce this universally-designed technology to the city and the world.”
Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems, Shepherd Center is ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.